Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I J. J. WISHARD. Y DITGHINGMAGHINE.

'No. 473,279.- Pate'n ted Apr. 19, 1892.

m I 1x71 17? WITNESSES INVENTOH ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No-Model.)

J. J. WISHARD. DITGHING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 19, 1892.

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WITNESSES. L

(No Model.) 'lSheetsQSheet 3L J. J. WISHARD.- DITGHING MACHINE.

Patented Apr..19; 1892.

WITNESSES W za-igftfim tries,

* 'ilnrrsn STATES PATENT JAMES JAHSON WISHARD, or SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

DiTCHlNG-MACHINE.

si noi moerron forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,279, dated April 19, 1892. Application filed September '2, 1891- sean No. 404,519. on model.)

Ta all whom it may concern: nectedwith chains E, while the rear posts D Be it known that 1, JAMES- JAHSON lVIsH- are connected-with chains E. The chains E AED, of Sacramento, in the county of Sacraand E extend upwardly and pass over pulmento and State of California, have invented leys E and E respectively, mounted on the 55 a new and Improved Ditching-Machine, of frame A, and then the said chains pass over which the following is a fall, clear, and exact pulleys E and E mounted to turn loosely description. v t V on a transversely-extending shaft E held in The objectof the invention is to provide a brackets'A', extending upward from the main new and improved ditching-machine which frame A. The chains E extend rearwardly 6c to is simple and durable in construction, very from their pulleys E and wind on drums 'F, effective in operation, and in which the ground both secured on a transverselyextending is taken up to the full width of the machine shaft F, mounted to turn in suitable bearand deposited at onelside of the latter to any ings formed on standards A, erected on the desired distance. frame A near the rear end of the same. The 65 I 5 The invention consists of certain parts and shaft F carries a ratchet-wheel F adapted details and combinations of the same, as will to be engaged by a pawl F pivoted on a lebe hereinafter fully described, and then pointverb, fulcrnmed loosely on the said shaft F, ed out in the claims. 7 and adapted to be actuated by the operator Reference is to be had to the accompanying standing on a platform A, erected on the rear 7c drawings, forminga part of this specification, of the frame A.

in which similar letters of reference indicate In order to prevent unwinding of the chains corresponding parts in all the figures. on the drums F, the shaft F carries a ratchet- Figure 1 is a plan Vle W of the improvement wheel F engaged by a pawl F, pivoted on with parts broken out. Fig. 2 is a side elevaone of the standards A. (See Fig. 6.) The 75 '25 tion of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation other two chains E extend rearwardly from .of the same. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the pulleys E and wind ondrums G, both sethe same on the linewwof Figsland 2. Fig. cured on a shaft G, mounted to turn in suit- 5 is a longitudinal section of the same on the able-bearings on standards Aipreviouslymenline 1 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged'plan tioned. On one'outer end of the shaft G is 8c i view of a mechanism for winding the drum, secured a hand-wheel G under the control of and Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the plow. the operator standing on th l f s Theimproved ditchiug-machineis provided In order to lock the shaft G in position, a A

with a suitably-constructed frame A, connectratchet-wheel G is secured on e Said Shaft ed at its front end by a fifth-wheel B with and engaged by a pawl G pivot d on one f the axle y the 5 1 heelsR'The the standards A". (See Fi 1 a 1 By rear end of the frame A is supported on the the operator turning the shaft F so a t wi m1 rear axlesC, carrying the hind wheels 0. Beup or unwind the chains -E tho-front part tween the front and hind wheels B and C and of the plow D can he raised or lowered, as denear the former is arranged a plow D, prosired. By turning the shaft so as to wind 9 4 yid d with two parallel sides D and an inup or unwind the chains E the rearpart of elined bottom D sloping rearward and upthe plow Dean be raised or lowered.

w rd, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 5. The On' the frbntpostsD? are coiled springs II, id .D 'of-vthe' plow D are pivotallyconnected and similar springs H are coiled on the roar b link D with arms D ,secur'ed ontheframe posts D The lower ends of the springs II 95 A a d rojecting downward from the same. and H rest on the upper edges of the sides- I order toprevent sidewise motion of the I), while the upperends of the said springs pplowpfbars D project downward from the Hand H" are engaged by transversebars 11 -f-ra'me A and engage the outside of the sides and H respectively, fitted to slideon the said D.'-. Each of the sides D of the plow Dis postal) and D "lhetransversebars lPand I00 rovided with a front postD a'nda rear post H are rovided-at or near their middle with 3 of which the two {r0 1PPWSQD QKQ':cone" men-spew med b k ip i jecting from the main frame A. The arm H extends forward, while the other arm 11 exlends rearward, as is plainly illustrated in Fig. 5. The free end of the arm II is connected with the end of a chain 11 and the arm 11 is connected with a chain H both extending upward, the chain 11 passing overa pulley ll, held on the main frame A. The chains ii and I] then pass over two pulleys II", mounted to fotate loosely on the shaft E". previously mentioned. The chains 1-1 and H extend rearward from the said pulleys 1-1 to wind on the two drums I and 1', respectively, secured on the shafts I and 1 respectively, arranged vertically and mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the cross-beam of the standards A in the main frame A. I

The shafts I and 1 are provided with handwheels '1 and 1 respectively, under the control of the operator standing on the platform A. The upper ends of the shafts I and I carry ratchet-wheels I and O ,engaged by pawls 1 and 1, pivoted on the cross-beam of the standards A as is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. By the operator turning the shaft 1 by means of the hand-wheel I a pull is exerted on the chain I l, so that the cross-bar H is pressed downward, thus exerting pressnre onthe spring I], and thereby forcing the front end of the plow downward in firm contact with the ground to be taken up. A similar pressure may be exerted against the rear of the plow D by the operator turning'the shaft I so as to wind up the chain if and its drum I. It will be seenthat by this arrangement the plow D is yieldingly mounted so as to readily pass over any serious obstructions in the ditch-bed.

The rear upper end of the bottom D of the plow D discharges onto an endless carrierbelt J, passing over the rollers J and J secured on shafts J and J,of which the former is journaled below the bottom I) in the sides D of the plow D. The shaft J is jourualed in the belt-frame J, secured at its upper end to the frame A and pivotally connected at its lower end by links J with the shaft J, previously mentioned. The links J permit of raising and lowering the plow D without changing the position of the carrier-belt J relative to the discharge end of the said plow l). The upper end of the earrier belt J discharges onto a second carrier-belt K, arranged transversely and passing over rollers Kaud K jourualed in a transversely?cxtcuding frame K, secured on the main frame A. The roller K is located to one side of themain frame A, as is plainly shown in Fig, 4, and the belt K discharges over this roller K onto the secomltransverse' carrier-belt L, intended to carry the material to one side of the machine any desired distance. The endless belts K, J, and L are actuated simultaneously from the rear axle C when the machine is moved forward.

In order to impart a traveling motion to the inclined belt J, the shaftJ' is provided on one end with a sprocket-wheel J over which passes a sprocket-chain N, extending rearwardly and downwardly and passing with its lower part o y nr' an idler N, supported from the main frame A The rear lower part of the spiocketchain N passes over a sprocketwheel N secured on a transverse shaft N, mounted to turn in suitable bearings on the rear part of the main frame A.

On the shaft N is secured a pinion N'Yin mesh with a gear-wheel N, mounted to 1'0- tate loosely on the axle C, carrying thehind wheel C. On the hub of the gear-wheel N are formed clutch-teeth adapted to be engaged by a clutch N, held to slide on and to turn with the said axle l. The clutch N is engaged with the lower end of a shifting 1ever N", pivoted on the main frame A and extending through the platform A, so as to be within convenient reach of the operator standing on the said platform A \Vhen the lever N is shifted so as to engage the clutch N with the clutch-teeth 0n the gear-wheel N, then the latter rotates with the shaft 0 when the machine is dragged forward. The gearwheel N imparts a rotary motion to the pinion N so that the shaft N is rotated and the rotary motion of the latter is transmitted by the sprocket-wheel N and the sprocket-chain N to the sprocket-wheel J, whereby the shaft J is rotated and rotary motion is imparted to the carrier-belt J in the direction of the arrow a.

On the shaft N is secured a bevel-gear wheel 0, meshing into a beyel gear wheel 0, secured on a longitudinally-extending shaftmounted to turn in suitable bearings in the main frame A and carrying on its inner end a sprocket-wheel 0, over which passes a sprocket-chain 0, also passing over a sprocket-wheel O, secured on the shaft K" of the roller K. Thus when the shaft N is rotated, as previously described, the gearwheel O imparts a rotary motion to the gearwheel 0, thus rotating the shaft 0', which by the sprocket-wheel O, the sprocket-chain O,and the sprocket-wheel O imparts a rotary motion to the shaft K", so that the carrier-belt K is caused to travel in the direc iionof the arrow 7;. ()n the innerend of the shaft is also secured a sproeketwhcel 1, over which passes a sprocket-chain 1", extending transversely and passing over a sproeketwheel 1", secured on the shaft L, ,earrying the roller I), over which the carrierbelt L passes. The latter also passes over the inner roller L, journaled in a frame L,which also supports .the shaft L. \Vhen the machine is dragged forward, the rotary motion ofthe shaft 0? causes the sprocket-wheel l to rotate, seas to impart motion to the sprocketchain P, which by passing over the sprocketwheell" rotates the shaft L, thus imparting a traveling motion to the carrier-belt L in the direction of the arrow 0.

The frame L supporting the carrier-belt L,

is provided near its in'iir end with longitudion itsirrner end, the outer frame A.

On the rear end of the shaft R is'secured a hand-wheel R within convenient reach of the operator standing on the platform A. A ratchet-wheel R 'is secured on the shaft R? and is adapted to be engaged by a pawl R to prevent a rotation of the shaft R and a consequent unwinding of the chains R and R, e and thus holding the free endof the frame L? in theproper position. v

- YVhen it is desired to shift the carrier-belt l farther to one side of the machine, the op-.'

erator moves the bearings Q on the guideways Q, so that the frame L slides outward to one side of the machine, carrying the carrier-belt- L along. At the same time the operator turns the shaft B so as'to let out the chains R and R to compensate for the outward movement of the carrier-belt frameL The latter can be raised or lowered at its free end by winding up or unwinding the chains R and R on 1 the drums R In case the frame L, with the carrier-belt L, is-moved outward, the chain 1 has to be-lengthened by adding the necessary number oflinks. Instead of. doing this, however, the chain 1 may :be' entirely-disconnected from the sprocket-wheel P and passed over anothersprocket-pulley, also driven from the shaft 0 The latter, is for. this purpose provided with a sprocket-Wheel S, over which passes a sprocket-chain vS, extending transversel y and passing'over a sprocket-wheel S secured on a shaft S mounted to turn in suitable hearings on that side of the main frame Aon which the carrier-frame is extended.

' ()n the shaft S is secured a sprocket-wheel is passed. When the machine is moved forward, the shaft S is rotated from the shaft 0 so -that.a travel- Jing motionis imparted to the sprocket-chain P, and by the latter movement is imparted to the carrier-belt L in the manner previously described.

In order to clean or scrape off the plow D,

a scraper T is provided, whichextends transversely over the bottom D of the plow between the sides D. The scraper T is rigidly secured to an upwardlyextending arm T, pivotally connected with a lever T fulcrumed loosely on the shaft E, previously mentioned. The free end of the lever T is guided verti cally-in guideways T erected on the front end of the frame A at the'side of th driversis within seat A, so that thesaid lever T convenient reach of the driver, who by pressfront end .under side of the axle ing down the said lever T with the inclined bottom D of the plow D. As the scraper T is slightly curved, as is plainly shown in Fig. 5, the said scraper moves forward, thus scraping off any dirt adhering to the bottom or sides of the plow.

In order to prevent the front wheels B from sinking too deep into the loose ground, two V-shaped plows U are mounted in front of the said wheels, so as' to make a furrow to permit the said wheels to travel on hard ground. The plows U are secured on the of a frame U, pivoted at U to the I B The free end of the frame U is also connected by a rope or chain U with one arm of, a bell-crank lever U, pivoted on the-drivers seat A and under the control of the driver seated on the said seat A". The lever U is also under the control of the operator standing on the platform A For this purpose the said lever is connected with a rope or chain U extending rearwardly and adapted to be fastened atits rear end on a cleat or pin U.

The. operation is as follows: The machine is drawn over the ground to be ditched in a suitable manner, the point of the plow D passing into the ground, so that the latter is plowed up, and passes over the inclined bottom of the plow onto the .lower end of the traveling or carrier belt J, which elevates the earth and finally discharges the same onto the transversecarrier-belt K. The latter discharges at the rear on one side of the machine onto the carrer-belt L, which carries the earth to a suitable distance to one sideof the machine to finally discharge the same over the roller L It will be belt L can be moved seen that the carrierto one side of the maend of the belt K will still discharge onto the belt L in casethe carrier-belt frame L is moved into an extreme outer position. When the operator desires to press the point of the plow farther into the ground, he turnsthe hand-wheel I so'as revolve the shaft .1 to wind up the chain ll on the drum 1'. The chain II now pulls on the arm 11*, which latter presses on the bar 11 thus compressing the spring II, and thereby exertingapressure onto the front end of the plow, so that the latter swings downward, the operator at the same time giving considerable-slack to the chains E by unwinding them from the drums F on the shaft F.

engages the scraper The plow may be raised I chine to,a considerable distance, as the rear entirely out of the ground whenever desired lever F and the hand-wheel G so as to wind up the chains'E and E.v VVhenthe plow'is raised, the lower end of the carrier-belt J is also elevated so as to be off the ground as the shaft J of the said belt is the sides D of the plow. The operator can stop thebelts J,K, and L from traveling at any time he desires by operating the lever N so as to throw the clutch N out of mesh with the clute'heteet-h on the gear-wheel N. "The opmounted to turn in.

, by the operator working simultaneously the I erator can clean the plow by the scraper T iat any time whenever found necessary. Thus it will be seen that the several working parts of the machine are under full control of the operator.

llaving thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- I 1. The combination, with the main frame, the plow, and the longitudinally-inclined elevator extending upward and rearward therefrom, of two parallel drums or rollers extending longitudinally along opposite sides of the frame in rear of said elevator, an endless belt mounted on said drums or rollers and extending transversely across the main frame, and a second endless 'carrierhavin'ga supportingframe pivotally supported at its i nnerend beneath the inner end of said endless belt, extending outward from the opposite side of the main frame and provided with means for adjusting its delivery end up or down, substantially'as set forth.

2. The combination, with the main frame, the plow, and the elevator, and the transverse earrierbelt at the upper. end thereof, of depending brackets Q provided at their lower ends with transversely-extending guideways Q, bearings Q, adjustable in said guideways,

a frame L, mounted at its inner end on said bearings and provided with means for adjusting its outer end, and an endless carrier mounted on the frame L, substantially as set.

forth.

3. The combination, with the main frame and its plow having aninclind bottom,ot' the tiller mounted under said bottom, links J projecting rearward frolnthe'ends of the lower roller, the elevatorframepivotally connected at its lower end with the rear ends of said links and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and having a roller at its upper end, and the endless elevator extending around said rollers, substantially as set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a plow provided with an inclined bottom and parallelsidcs,of posts formed on the sides of the said plow, cushioning-springs carried by said posts, and chains connected with the said posts to support the said plow, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a. ditching-imichinc, the combination, with a plow provided with an inclined bottom and parallel sides, of front and rear posts formed on the sidcsof the said plow,chains con- ,necma with the said posts to sn pport'the said plow, and means, substantially as described, for raising or lowering the said chains independently of each other, substantially as shown and described. I

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a plow supported on chains adapted to be raiscd'or lowered, of springs pressing on the said plow, cross-bars pressing o.n-tl'resarid springs and provided with pivoted arms, and chains ..connected with the-said pivoted arms to increase or diminish the pressure on the said springs, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a plow supported on chains adapted to be raised or lowered, of springs pressing on the said plow, cross-bars pressing on the said springs and provided with pivoted arms, chains connected with the said pivoted arms as increase or diminish the pressure on the said springs, and mechanism, substantially as described, for exerting a pull on the said chains eonnectedwith the arms independently of each other, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a frame mounted on front and hind wheels, of triangular plows arranged in front of the said front wheels to form a furrow for the latter, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with a frame mounted on front and hind wheels, of triangular plows arranged in front of tho'said front wheels to form a furrow for Y the latter, a pivoted frame supporting the said plows, and means, substantially as described, for raising and lowering the said plows, as set forth.

10. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with the main frame provided with rigid guideways, of bearings held adjustably in the said guideways, trunnions engaging the said bearings, a carrier-belt frame on which the said trunnions are secured, a carrier-belt mounted to turn in the said bclt-framc,atul means,snb stantially as described, for raising and lowering the free end of the said carrier-bolt frame, substantially as shown and described.

11. In aditching-machine, the combination, with a main frame mounted on wheels, of a plow held on chains supported on the said main frame, links connected with lhcsidcs of the said plow and connected with the brackets on the said main frame, and means, substantially as described, for raising or lowering either end of the said plow, substantially as shown and described.

12. In aditching-machinc, the combinal ion, with a plow provided with an inclined bottom and parallel sides, of posts formed on thcsidcs of the said plow, chains connected with the said posts to support the said plow, means, substantially as described, for raising or lowering the said chains independently of each other, and fixed guide-arms engaging 1 he sides of the said plow to prevent sidcwise lno\'cmeut of the plow. substantially as shown and 'fldscribcd.

13. Ina ditching-machine, the combination, with a plow having an inclined bottom, of n scraper arranged vertically and adapted to pass over the said inclined bot tom to clean the plow, substantially as shown and dcscribed.

14. Inaditching-machine,thecombination,

with a plow having an inclined bottom, of a said, plow to the winding-drums, substantially scraper arranged vertically and adapted to. as shown and described. v -I'5 pass over the said inclined bottom to clean 16. In aditching-machine, the combination, the plow, and a lever adapted to be swung up with a plow provided on its sides with posts, 5' and down and pivotally connected with ,the of chains connected with the said posts and said scraper, substantially as shown and (16- two independent winding-drums for winding scribed. f a up the chains independent of each other to 20 '15. Inaditching-machine, the combination, raise or lower the plow or one end thereof, with a plow, of chains connected with said substantially as shown and described. toplolwfor raising, lowering,;ortiltingthe said JAMES J AHSON WVISHARD.

'; 'iel'om'winding-drumsfor actnating'the'said Witnesses:

g -chains, and a 'transverses haft carrying pnl- ANDREW JACKSON MOCONMACK,

' Joys over which pass thc saidchains from the JOHN PHILLIP BRIssEL. 

